Agostini: Bettencourt keeps sights set on tournament win

It's Year 2 for Beyer High graduate Matt Bettencourt on the PGA Tour, and he's defined his major goal.

"I want to win a tournament," he said last fall during a First Tee fund-raiser at Del Rio Country Club. "That's the next step."

Sounds reasonable for a late-blooming pro who, at age 34, enjoyed a solid rookie year on the Tour.

Bettencourt will tee off in the first group off No. 1 in the opening round of the Sony Open, the Tour's first full-field event of 2010, Thursday at Honolulu's Waialae Country Club. He understands the value of starting fast at Waialae and carrying that momentum onto the West Coast Swing.

Last year, Bettencourt made 17 of 31 cuts and kept his card by making $740,037 and placing 111th on the Tour money list. His tie for fifth at the Memorial, during which he led going into the final round, and a tie for 10th at the U.S. Open fueled his year. In fact, his performance at the Open vaults him into the field for the Open this summer at Pebble Beach.

Also in the Sony field is part-time Modestan John Merrick, who finished 58th with nearly $1.5 million in 2009. He anchored his year with a tie for second at the Bob Hope and a tie for sixth at the Masters.

THE SHAG BAG — Sue Fiscoe, the Modesto director of golf, heads to the annual PGA Merchandise Show on Jan. 29-31 in Orlando, Fla., but this time she attends as a member of the PGA of America board of directors. She'll serve as a moderator of a panel discussion on the importance of women in golf. ...

Nick Watney, Janet Coles and Paul Goydos are among the honorees at the 51st California Golf Writers and Broadcasters Association awards banquet on Feb. 9 at The Inn at Spanish Bay. Coles will become the 10th female inductee to the California Golf Hall of Fame. For tickets, call 831-375-1747. ... Tickets also are on sale for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, to be held Feb. 11-14. This year marks the 25th anniversary of AT&T's sponsorship. Call 801-541-9091.

HOLES-IN-ONE — Al Olsen (86), Modesto, 149-yard 12th at Creekside, driver. ... Steffen Haro, Modesto, 155-yard 11th at Turlock CC, 9-iron. ... George Robbins, Riverbank, 136-yard fourth at River Oaks, Ceres, 9-iron. ... Matthew Sullivan, Turlock, 96-yard fifth at River Oaks, 9-iron. ... Daniel Pena, Modesto, 133-yard eighth at River Oaks, 6-iron. ... Bob Lamee, Livermore, 90-yard fourth at Jack Tone Golf, Ripon, pitching wedge. ... Charles LaCombe, Modesto, fourth at Jack Tone, pitching wedge. ... Gini Arents, 121-yard 14th at Saddle Creek, Copperopolis, 6-iron. ... Bob Gascon, Modesto, 145-yard third at Fig Garden, Fresno, 7-iron. ... Steve Marsden, Copperopolis, 142-yard eighth at Saddle Creek, 8-iron. ... Phil Gross, Sonora, 130-yard 12th at Mountain Springs, Sonora, 8-iron. ... Jack Clark, Sonora, 180-yard 17th at Mountain Springs, 3 rescue.

Bee staff writer Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.